I was very fond of the old man. I gave him my whole heart; no father ever
had a daughter more attached; but I could not marry him. And it was the
remembrance of my love for him that made me burst out crying. I do not
think I realised until I saw you how cruelly I had been treated. But you
won't tell any one? You won't tell Mrs. Bentley? She knows, of course; but
do not tell her that I told you. I do not care that my feelings should be
made a subject of discussion. You promise me?'

'I promise you.'

They had now reached the tennis-lawn. The gong sounded, and Emily said,
'That is lunch, and we shall find Julia waiting for us in the dining-room.'
It was as she said. Mrs. Bentley was standing by the sideboard, her basket
of keys in her hand; she had not quite finished her housekeeping, and was
giving some last instructions to the butler. Hubert noticed that the place
at the head of the table was for him, and he sat down a little embarrassed,
to carve a chicken. So much home after so many years of homelessness seemed
strange.




XI


On the third day, as soon as breakfast was over, Hubert introduced the
subject of his departure. Julia waited, but as Emily did not speak, she
said, 'We thought you liked the country better than town.'

'So I do, but----'